Adena wrote:ten minutes? how long are you waiting between each set? most of what i've read says to wait at least 3 minutes between each set if your goal is to get stronger.

I get confused on this. I never know what to wait. I've seen such a range of recommendations. I usually rest 1-2 min. until I feel ready for the next set, but I don't know if that's the right way to go about it.

Adena wrote:ten minutes? how long are you waiting between each set? most of what i've read says to wait at least 3 minutes between each set if your goal is to get stronger.

I get confused on this. I never know what to wait. I've seen such a range of recommendations. I usually rest 1-2 min. until I feel ready for the next set, but I don't know if that's the right way to go about it.

You got it right on there Lobsteriffic. That's the key. You rest as long as you need to rest.

For me, this week's sets of this cycle don't need a ton of rest to hit the prescribed reps. I think the numbers are evidence of that. So, I'm resting 1 or less between...maybe 2-3 before the final set. I also mentioned in an earlier post that this cycle of the 5/3/1 is more of a 4-week vacation for recovery than for growing.I know that if I continue to do consecutive cycles, the increase in weight on the bar will be more than such a short rest time can handle - at which point you'd see me rest longer...up to 5 minutes.

Though, as far as I've studied, the exercise becomes more aerobic in the 30 sec. rest range...1-5 minutes is a good frame of reference for anaerobic strength/hypertrophy gains.

gsop_3 wrote:Oh, and I just set up my numbers for SL 5x5 intermediate - aka, Madcow's 5x5/Bill Starr's 5x5

Madcow isn't a stronglifts program. The website for the program was hosted on geocities before it got shutdown. Several places who had a backup of the program have uploaded it to their site (including stronglifts). I think it's much older than SL.

About the program, not much gets by you! You're right Chewy. It has been around much longer. Though, it is recommended as an intermediate program following the SL 5x5 beginner. So, I just spoke about it that way.The excel file I downloaded is named 5x5_intermediate_v0.3 (from the SL site - which is why I thought it was the SL 5x5 intermediate - oops! ) It's really user friendly...at least for me. (when I opened the file it actually says at the top in big bold letters Bill Starr 5x5.) http://stronglifts.com/madcow/5x5_Progr ... e_v0.3.zip

Perhaps, I should have specified that it is Bill Starr's/Madcow's 5x5.I should've given credit where credit is due. And, yes, I also think it looks better than the SL advanced. As I understand what I've read, it's set up as a periodized program whereas Bill Starr's is linear - of which, there is an advanced version that is also periodized once the linear progression runs out.

I feel like I could barely call it a workout...just enough to get the chest and shoulders warmed up... guess that's why it's called deloading! I played dodge ball with my students which got the blood flowing and loosened up the shoulders.Then...